Casing head



Aug. 6, 1929.

A. G. HEGGEM 1,723,934

CASING HEAD v Filed Dec. 28, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet l /6 e? W a v w III/A Aug, 6, 1929. A. G. HEGGEM CAS ING HEAD Filed Dec. 28, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet HIE Patented Aug. .6, 1929.

. UNITED STATES ALFRED G. HEGGEM, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

CASING HEAD.

Application filed December 28, 1925. Serial No. 78,058.

My invention relates to a casing head device for use in the drilling of oil or other deep wells and is particularly concerned with the provision of simple, strong, durable and readily operated means for de-' tachably securing an oil saver, sand line cap or other similar fitting to a casing head.

The present'common method of fastening such fittings to a casing head is to employ four radially extending set screws which are threaded into the casing head and engage the base of the oil saver or fitting necessary to be used at the time for the particular drilling operation being performed. This old form of securing means is inefiicient in that it lacks the strengthnecessary to withstand the pull of the drilling line when the rope socket of the drilling tools impacts against the bottom of the oil saver 'or fitting.

Moreover the employment of set screws as the attaching means involves the loss of considerable time in manipulating such screws and this is particularly disadvantageous when the-well is making oil or gas and has a flow pressure making it diflicult to maintain the oil saver in place until the set screws can be tightened. By my invention an oil saver or other. fitting desired to be used may be quickly attached to or released 36 from the casing head andtlre securing means is of a sufficiently rugged character to withstand the pull of the drilling line so that no damage results if the rope socket should accidently strike the fitting in the operation of withdrawing the "tools from the well, the only affect of such an impact being to produce a slippage of the bull rope permitting the tools to, come to rest within the casing head.

A principal feature of the invention consists in associating with the casing head a fitting having a perforation for the passage of a drilling line or the like, and in mounting on the casing head means for forcing the fittingtoward the head, the said means being movable toward and from the opening in the casing head through which the well drilling tools pass and being adapted to be simultaneously actuated by a member rotatably mounted on the head.

Another feature of the invention consists in securing the fitting to the casing head through the instrumentality of means mounted on the head and movable toward and from the tool opening in the latter, the

sists in securing the fitting to the casing head by a plurality of toggle devices adaptsaidmeans being capable of vertical adjustment with respect to the casing head so as to compensate for wear of parts.

A further feature of the invention coned to be simultaneously operated to force the fitting toward the casing head.

Other features of the invention pertaining to advantageous relations of parts and details of construction will hereinafter appear and be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention Figure 1 is a View, partly in vertical'section and partly in elevation, of a casing head and associated oil saver embodying the invention. Figure 2 is a detail view, partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, of the mechanism for securing the saver tothe casing head.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 3-3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional View on the line H, Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the wedge elements of the toggle devices shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive.

Figure 6 is a view corresponding to Figure 2 but illustrating a modified form of the invention. H

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view on the line 7--7, Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view on the line 88, Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a detail plan view of a portion of the cover plate employed in the modified construction. I

The casing head '1 is provided with an opening 2 for the passa e of tools or of fluids encountered in dr' ling. For-med in the upper end of the head and surrounding the opening 2 is a groove receiving a soft packing element 3 which makes ossible the provision of a fluid tight 'oint etween the casing head 1 and such tting as may be applied to the latter. While the drawin illustrate a form of safety casin head su stantially identical with that w ich is the 105 subject of Letters Patent No. 1,540,263, granted to me on June 2, 1925, it is to be understood that this form or type of casin head is not material to my invention, whic is applicable t9 casing heads in general. 110.

' will be readily ilnderstood, serve to force the The means fordetachably securing the oil saver or fitting 4 to the "casing head involve a plurality of wedges and means for simultaneously actuating them. As shown in Figures 1 to '5 inclusive these wedges are preferably elements of toggle devices, each wedge 5 being pivotally mounted upon a corresponding vertically extending stud 6 projecting upwardly from the casing head. These studs, which are circularly arranged, are spaced from each other a sufiicient distance to permit the wedges 5 to operate between them. Overlying the wedges 5 is a retaining ring or cover plate 7 through which the studs 6 pass, the latter being threaded to receive nuts 8 which may be manipulated to adjust the position of the plate 7 with respect to the upper end of the casing head 1. The ring like cover plate 7 forms an abutment for the wedges 5 communicating their upward thrusts to the studs 6 carried by the head. Telescopically mounted upon the upper end of the casing head and interposed between the latter and the overlying cover member 7 is a rotatable frame 9 which may advantageously be provided with a plurality of outwardly extending operatin handles 10, the said frame beingcounter ored or recessed upon its underside, as indicated at 11, to receive the upper end of the casing head. Each of the pivoted wedges 5 is operatively connected to the frame 9 by means of a plurality of links 12. Pins 13, which, if desired, may be somewhat upset at their ends to retain them in assembled relation, serve to pivotally connect the links to the rotatable frame 9 and the respectivewedges 5.

Each-of the pivoted toggle wedges 5 is preferably inclined on its lower surface to form acurved shelving portion 14 which is adapted to engage the correspondingly inclined surface 15 of the base portion 16 of the fitting applied to the casing head. These cooperating inclines, 14 and 15, as

base of the oil saver into firm sealing contact with the packing ring 3 carried by the casing head when the operating frame 9 is rotated'in -the proper direction to actuate .the toggles and force the pivoted wedges 5 2 in the casing head, the base 16 of the fit inwardly. Rotation of the frame 9 in the opposite direction retracts the wedges 5, thus releasing the fitting 4. r

In alinement with the axis of'the opening ting is formed with a perforation 17 for the passage of a drilling line 20 or the like.

Above this perforation the oil saver fitting may advantageously be provided with two packing chambers, 18 and 19 respectively, or recelvlng suitable means for packing the drilling line, the upper chamber 19, being provided with separable cover plates 21. By this construction means are provided for enabling the upper packing rubbers to be replaced while the well is still packed off. This is often quite advantageous. The remainihg features of the oil saver fitting illustrated will be recognized by those skilled in the art as generally similar to an oil saver of the roller type.

In the modified form of construction illustrated in Figures 6 to 9 inclusive, radially slidable wedges 22 are employed for securing the fitting 4 to the casing head 1. These wedges are interposed between the upper end of the casing head and an overlying ring 23 adjustably secured to the casin head in the manner previously described with respect to the retaining ring or cover plate 7 On its underside the retaining rin 23 is provided with spaced wedge shape projections 24 forming guides for the intervening wedges 22. The frame 25 for operating the wedges 22 is rotatably mounted upon the upper end of the casing head by encircling an upstanding fian 'e 26 with which the latter is provided. in its upper surface the frame is formed with a plurality of inclined or cam surfaces preferably provided by spiral grooves 27 which receive correspondingly shaped downwardly projecting lugs 28 with which the wedge members 22 are fashioned. In other respects the construction illustrated in the modification of the invention shown in Figures 6 to 9 may be the same in form and function as that heretofore described, and accordingly corresponding structural details have been indicated by corresponding reference numerals. It will be perceived that the rotation of the frame 25 in one direction simultaneously forces all of the wedges 22 into locking engagement with the base 16 of the fitting and that upon rotation in the opposite direction the said wedges are retracted so as to release the fitting from the casing head.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character indicated, the combination with a casin head having an opening for the passage 0 well drilling tools or the like, of a fitting forming a cover for said opening, said fitting being provided with a perforation for the passage of a drilling line or the like, and means mounted on the casing head'and including members movable toward and from the opening in the latter for forcing said fitting toward said head, said members being vertically movable with respect to said head, and said means being adjustably connected to the casing head so as to permit the extent of vertical movement of said members to be varied.

2. In a device of the character indicated, the combination with a casin head having an opening for the passage 0% well drilling tools or the like, of a fitting forming a cover for said opening, said fitting being provided with a perforation in alinement with said til opening, a packin surrounding said opening and interpose between the casing head and fitting, a lu'rality of devices mounted on the casing cad for forcing said fitting into engagement with said packing, said devices being movable toward and from the adjacent end of the casing head to compensate for reduction in thickness of the packing or wear of parts, adjustable means for limiting the extent of movement of said devices in a direction away from said end of the casing head, and means for simultaneously actuating said devices.

3. In a device of the character indicated, the combination with a casing head having an opening for the passage of well drilling tools or the like, of a fitting forming a cover for said opening, said fitting being provided with a perforation in alinement with said opening, a plurality of wedges movable with respect to the head and fittingand adapted to secure the latter to the casing head, means overlying said wedges for retaining them in operative-relation to the casing head, said means being adjustably connected to said casing head and serving to limit upward movement of said wedges with respect to said head, and a device rotatably mounted on the casing head for actuating said wedges.

4. In a device of the character indicated, the combination with a casin head having an opening for the passage 0 well drilling tools or the like, of a fitting forming a cover for said opening, said fitting being provided with a perforation in alinement with the opening, a plurality of wedges adapted to secure the fitting to the casing head, a retaining ring engaging and overlying the wedges, means for a justably securing said ring to the casing head, and a rotatable frame interposed between said ring and the casing head, said frame upon being rotated serving to actuate said wedges.

5. In a device of the character indicated, the combination with a casin head having an opening for the passage 0% well drilling tools or the like, of a fitting forming a cover for said opening said fitting being provided with a perforation in alinement with said opening, a plurality of pivoted wedges for securing the fitting to the casing head, said wedges beingmovable with respect to the head and to the fitting and being adapted to en age the latter, links respectively connected to the wedges and a frame movably mounted on the casing head for actuating the links to move said wedges, said frame when rotated in one direction being adapted to force the wedges into engagement with the fitting and when rotated in the opposite direction being adapted to cause said wedges to be disengaged from the fitting.

6. In a device of the character indicated, the combination'with a casing head having an opening for the passage of well drilling tools or the like, of a fitting forming a cover for said opening, said fitting being provided with a perforation in alinement with said'opening, a plurality of wedges pivotally mounted on the casing head and adapted to secure said fitting thereto, a frame rotatably mounted on the casing head, and means movably connecting said wedges and frame.

7. In a device of the character indicated, the combination with a casing head having an opening for the passage of well drilling tools or the like, of a fitting forming a cover for said opening, said fitting being provided with a perforation in alinement with said opening, and means. for securing the fitting to the casing head, said means involving a plurality of toggle devices each of which includes a wedge movable withrespect to said fitting and casing head.

8. In a device of the character indicated, the combination with a casing head having an opening for the passage of well drilling tools or the like, of a fitting forming a cover for said opening, said fitting being provided with. a perforation in alinement with said opening, and means for securing the fitting to the casing head, said means including a frame rotatable with respect to the casing head and a plurality of toggle devices adapted to be actuated by said frame, each of said toggle devices including a wedge adapted to engage said fitting.

9. In a device of the character indicated, I

the combination with a casing head having an opening for the passage of well drilling tool or the like, of a fitting forming a cover for said opening, said fitting being provided with a perforation in alinement with said opening, a rotatable frame encircling and telescopically mounted on the casing head with capability of vertical movement with respect to the latter, means for retaining said frame in operative relation to said head, and means adapted to be operated by the frame for securing the fitting to the casing head. 7

In testimony whereof I afir my signature.

ALFRED G.-HEGGEM. 

